The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. (Acts 28:2, NIV)
I have a favorite Links Players polo. Trouble is, it has the old logo, which we retired in 2018. What do you think? Should I keep on wearing it, or fold it up, store it in the cedar chest, and pull it out when it’s truly retro?
Sometimes we can have fun like this when we consider what we’re going to wear. Alternate (AKA loud) uniforms are in with sports teams and even show up during golf’s cup matches. Maybe you’re more conservative than this, but you still have your favorites, I’m sure.
This month we’ve been drawing from Paul’s list of “garments” as he outlined them for the Colossians: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. When we considered compassion a few days ago, we recognized that it is not just an idea or a feeling, but it steps into action. The same is true for today’s garment, kindness.
When Luke wrote of Paul’s entourage’s time on the island of Malta (of which Luke was a part), he called what the Maltese people did “unusual kindness.” What did they do? Built a fire and welcomed the shipwrecked travelers into refuge from the nasty weather. As simple as that, yet “unusual.” In a way, that’s a sad commentary. But we might understand even today that people don’t always reach out like this, especially to strangers.
We never put our blinders on. We’re looking out for those who have needs.
After 9/11, when scores of planes were diverted from New York, the people of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada, found their opportunity to show unusual kindness, “even though we knew nobody by name.” Thirty-eight planes landed at the Gander International Airport. The 7,000 passengers nearly doubled Gander’s population. Citizen Bonnie Harris said, “I didn’t know anybody who didn’t do something, be it something big or something small.” What a description of kindness—and something none of those passengers will ever forget.
As those who want to do what Jesus told us to do, we often take up the matters of evangelism and missions. We know we are called to share the gospel. But few of us are comfortable with the prospect of buying a megaphone and preaching at First and Main. Isn’t there another way to get people’s attention? Absolutely, there is! It’s kindness.
So what does it mean to “wear” kindness? It means that we never put our blinders on. We’re looking out for those who have needs. In Gander, resident Beulah Cooper recalled the first thing that came out of her mouth when the planes started landing: “‘Thank God they’re coming here, because I know they’re going to be looked after.’ I’m not saying they wouldn’t be looked after elsewhere, but I knew they would be looked after here.”
The people of Gander were ready to show kindness, even kindness on a massive scale. That should be us as the followers of Jesus. In this way, perhaps the “clothes” of Christ, including the outfit of kindness, really can make the men and women of God.
(I was aided in my reporting of what happened in Gander by this great three-minute video.)
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Jeff Hopper
August 10, 2020
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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